Well-read & Unfiltered

Well-Read & Unfiltered Podcast
  • 5.0 (6)
  • Books
  • Updated Weekly

Welcome to Well-Read & Unfiltered, a weekly podcast where we get together to talk about books, bookish trends, and the ever-evolving world of book culture. From new releases, underrated gems, overhyped bestsellers, and the latest conversations happening across BookTok, Bookstagram, bookstores, and beyond, we’re here for all of the unfiltered discussions about the stories and characters to impact us all. Each episode features conversational deep dives, themed book discussions, current reads, reading trends, publishing news, and occasional book club episodes where we unpack one selected title together. Whether you love literary fiction, fantasy, horror, thrillers, sci-fi, romance, or romantasy, there’s a place for you here. Hosted by Aaron, K, and Casey from across the United States, Well-Read & Unfiltered is less about perfect reviews and more about authentic conversations, differing opinions, and building a community around the books we cannot stop thinking about. New episodes every Monday or Tuesday, so grab your current read and join the conversation! Be sure to follow us on Instagram for the latest news and content at @wellreadandunfilteredpodcast

  1. 4d ago

    Off the Radar Books for Your TBRs!

    Your next five-star read might be a book you’ve never heard of! This week on Well-Read & Unfiltered, we’re taking books off the radar and putting them onto your TBRs. From forgotten favorites to unread shelf residents we bought with the best intentions, we’re pitching books we wish we saw more often on our feeds. Expect Arthurian legends, emotional family stories, aliens on dating apps, and a cosmic entity trapped inside a cat. Our reading tastes cover a lot of ground. 😂 Some we’ve read and loved. Others we’re hoping you’ll help convince us to finally pick up. All are here to cause a little TBR chaos. And be sure to tell us: what’s one book you wish more people were talking about? BOOKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE The Knave and the Moon - Rachel GilligRuin - John GwynneThe Calamity Club - Kathryn StockettWe Burned So Bright - TJ KluneDominion of Blades - Matt DinnimanSomewhere Beyond the Sea - TJ KluneA Time of Dread - John GwynneBright Monday - David LeavittLes Misérables - Victor HugoWinterset Hollow - Jonathan Edward DurhamThe Simple Wild - K.A. TuckerThe Arthurian Tales - Giles Kristian Boy's Life - Robert R. McCammonThe Body - Stephen KingSame As It Ever Was - Claire LombardoBrotherhood - Mohamed Mbougar SarrA Thousand Splendid Suns - Khaled HosseiniWalking Practice - Dolki MinSomeone You Can Build a Nest In - John WiswellA Woman Is No Man - Etaf RumThe Wall - Marlen HaushoferThe Reapers are the Angels - Alden BellMonstrilio - Gerardo Sámano CórdovaDeath Valley - Karina HalleThe Living Dead - Daniel Kraus and George A. RomeroHidden Pictures - Jason RekulakThe Last One at the Wedding - Jason RekulakLook What the Cat Dragged In - Jason RekulakThis Close to Okay - Leesa Cross-SmithMr. Whiskers: Lord of the Void - Joshua D. KoesterThe Secret Lives of Zombie Wives - Barbara TrueloveOpen, Heaven - Seán Hewitt

  2. Oct 12

    Whose History Are We Reading? | Honoring Indigenous Voices

    Who tells the history we learn, and whose voices get left out? Today on Well-Read and Unfiltered, we’re honoring Indigenous Peoples’ Day with a conversation about colonialism, displacement, belonging, and how reading can challenge the stories we grew up believing. We dive into The Buffalo Hunter Hunter by Stephen Graham Jones, exploring generational trauma, revenge, and what happens when the real horror is rooted in history. Then we share reads and TBR picks spanning horror, literary fiction, YA, and romance. We’re approaching this conversation as readers who are still learning, with a commitment to listening to and supporting Indigenous voices throughout the year. 🎧 The new episode is out today! Which Indigenous author should we read next? Leave your recommendations below. 📚 Books Mentioned • The Buffalo Hunter Hunter — Stephen Graham Jones • The Only Good Indians — Stephen Graham Jones • I Was a Teenage Slasher — Stephen Graham Jones • Where Wolves Don’t Die — Anton Treuer • Never Whistle at Night — edited by Shane Hawk and Theodore C. Van Alst Jr. • There There — Tommy Orange • Wandering Stars — Tommy Orange • Moon of the Crusted Snow — Waubgeshig Rice • Moon of the Turning Leaves — Waubgeshig Rice • Station Eleven — Emily St. John Mandel • Indian Burial Ground — Nick Medina • Sisters of the Lost Nation — Nick Medina • What Came West — Josh Weil • The Revenant — Michael Punke • Bad Cree — Jessica Johns • Love Is a War Song — Danica Nava • The Babysitter Lives — Stephen Graham Jones • Off the Reservation — Stephen Graham Jones

  3. Oct 5

    Not Enough Orphans & Other Bookish Complaints | September Wrap-Up

    We expected a four-course meal. Some books gave us soup (you'll need to listen to understand this joke). 😂 This week, we’re unpacking September’s biggest letdowns, surprise favorites, and full-blown reading obsessions with a passionate case for looking beyond Dungeon Crawler Carl. What was your best (or most disappointing) read of the month? 📚 BOOKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE Somewhere Beyond the Sea - TJ Klune We Burned So Bright - TJ Klune The Calamity Club - Kathryn Stockett The Help - Kathryn Stockett The Knave and the Moon - Rachel Gillig The Knight and the Moth - Rachel Gillig One Dark Window - Rachel Gillig Two Twisted Crowns - Rachel Gillig Twenty Minutes of Silence - Hélène Bessette Ruin - John Gwynne Valour - John Gwynne Kaiju: Battlefield Surgeon - Matt Dinniman Bright Monday - David Leavitt The Most Fun We Ever Had - Claire Lombardo Same As It Ever Was - Claire Lombardo The Only Way Out Is Up - Django Wexler
A Time of Dread - John Gwynne The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion Vol 1-6 - Beth Brower Dominion of Blades - Matt Dinniman Dungeon Crawler Carl - Matt Dinniman The Hobgoblin Riot - Matt Dinniman The Living Dead - Daniel Kraus and George A. Romero Blood Sugar - Daniel Kraus Coffin Moon - Keith Rosson The Birds - Daphne du Maurier The Sorrowstones - Felix Blackwell Stolen Tongues - Felix Blackwell ACCOUNTS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE 
 @tonytakesonbooks

  4. Sep 28

    Banned Books: Who Gets to Decide What We Read?

    Who gets to decide what belongs on your bookshelf? This week on Well Read and Unfiltered, we’re talking banned books, the freedom to read, and where parental guidance crosses into policing everyone else’s shelves. From "1984" and "The Handmaid’s Tale" to ACOTAR, we unpack the stories that spark controversy, the value of uncomfortable reads, and why representation matters. Expect strong opinions, a few reading confessions, and a debate about whether banning a book just makes us want to read it more. What banned or challenged book has left an impression on you? Tell us in the comments. BOOKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE Harry Potter series — J. K. Rowling1984 — George OrwellFahrenheit 451 — Ray BradburyThe Handmaid’s Tale — Margaret AtwoodThe Hunger Games — Suzanne CollinsA Court of Thorns and Roses (ACOTAR) — Sarah J. MaasLolita — Vladimir NabokovThe Crucible — Arthur Miller (the film adaptation is mentioned)I Am Malala — Malala Yousafzai, with Christina Lamb (edition unspecified)Animal Farm — George OrwellThe Outsiders — S. E. HintonThe Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time — Mark HaddonThe Perks of Being a Wallflower — Stephen ChboskyTo Kill a Mockingbird — Harper LeeThe Buffalo Hunter Hunter — Stephen Graham JonesThe Love Hypothesis — Ali HazelwoodMein Kampf — Adolf HitlerThe Giver — Lois LowryPowerless — Lauren RobertsBeloved — Toni MorrisonBilly Budd, Sailor — Herman MelvilleThe Diary of a Young Girl — Anne FrankLooking for Alaska — John GreenThe Bluest Eye — Toni MorrisonDesert Sons — Mark KendrickVictorian Psycho — Virginia FeitoGoosebumps series — R. L. StineModel Home — Rivers SolomonBrave New World — Aldous HuxleyThe Color Purple — Alice WalkerSlaughterhouse-Five — Kurt Vonnegut

  5. Sep 21

    Our Fantasy Favorites!

    This week on "Well Read and Unfiltered", we’re sharing our fantasy favorites, the books that hooked us on the genre, and the fictional worlds we can’t stop thinking about. From epic series and dark standalones to unforgettable characters and magic systems, we’re getting into what makes a fantasy worth the commitment, and whether a little romance helps or hurts. Expect nostalgic favorites, unfiltered opinions, and more books for your already impossible TBR. What fantasy book or series will you always recommend? BOOKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE The Infernal Devices - Cassandra Clare The Mortal Instruments - Cassandra Clare Chain of Thorns - Cassandra Clare Twilight - Stephenie Meyer The Lord of the Rings - J. R. R. Tolkien The Faithful and the Fallen - John Gwynne His Dark Materials - Philip Pullman A Court of Thorns and Roses - Sarah J. Maas Tress of the Emerald Sea - Brandon Sanderson Onyx Storm - Rebecca Yarros The Will of the Many - James Islington The Strength of the Few - James Islington The Bloodsworn Saga - John Gwynne Of Blood and Bone - John Gwynne Fourth Wing - Rebecca Yarros A Game of Thrones - George R. R. Martin Villains Series - V. E. Schwab Dungeon Crawler Carl - Matt Dinniman The Way of Kings - Brandon Sanderson The Spellshop - Sarah Beth Durst The Enchanted Greenhouse - Sarah Beth Durst Sea of Charms - Sarah Beth Durst Legends & Lattes - Travis Baldree Assistant to the Villain - Hannah Nicole Maehrer The Sword of Kaigen - M. L. Wang Blood Over Bright Haven - M. L. Wang The Grace of Kings - Ken Liu The Last Tale of the Flower Bride - Roshani Chokshi Shield of Sparrows - Devney Perry Life of Pi - Yann Martel Remarkably Bright Creatures - Shelby Van Pelt Between Two Fires - Christopher Buehlman The Works of Vermin - Hiron Ennes Of Blood and Fire - Ryan Cahill Farseer trilogy - Robin Hobb One Dark Window - Rachel Gillig Shades of Magic - V. E. Schwab Nettle & Bone - T. Kingfisher Liveship Traders - Robin Hobb Mistborn - Brandon Sanderson The Dandelion Dynasty - Ken Liu Jade City - Fonda Lee Valour - John Gwynne The Blacktongue Thief - Christopher Buehlman The Knave and the Moon - Rachel Gillig The Poet Empress - Shen Tao The Poppy War - R. F. Kuang Babel - R. F. Kuang Yellowface - R. F. Kuang Katabasis - R. F. Kuang

  6. Sep 14

    Upcoming Releases We're Excited About for the Remainder of 2026!

    We are looking ahead to the releases they’re most excited about for the rest of 2026, and your TBR is about to get longer! From unsettling horror and sweeping historical fiction to spicy holiday romances and highly anticipated fantasy, there’s something for every kind of reader. Along the way, we share our current reads, debate whether rereading can change your opinion of a book, and discuss the pressure on authors to deliver the next installment. Expect Shakespeare enthusiasm, romantasy FOMO, and a spirited disagreement about Christmas creeping into spooky season. Which upcoming releases are on your radar? BOOKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE Kaiju: Battlefield Surgeon — Matt DinnimanDungeon Crawler Carl — Matt DinnimanDominion of Blades — Matt DinnimanTrailer Park Fairy Tales — Matt DinnimanThe Knight and the Moth — Rachel GilligThe Knave and the Moon — Rachel GilligOne Dark Window — Rachel GilligTwo Twisted Crowns — Rachel GilligBad Tourists — Caro CarverMazywood — Tananarive DueThe Reformatory — Tananarive DueThreshing Day — Rebecca YarrosFourth Wing / Empyrean series — Rebecca YarrosA Court of Thorns and Roses / ACOTAR series — Sarah J. MaasThe Disappearers — Marlon JamesScorpion Deep — C. G. DrewsDon’t Let the Forest In — C. G. DrewsYou Did Nothing Wrong — C. G. DrewsIt’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Murder — Ally CarterThe Most Wonderful Crime of the Year — Ally CarterExit Party — Emily St. John MandelStation Eleven — Emily St. John MandelSea of Tranquility — Emily St. John MandelPin Feathers — Christina HenryThe Girl in Red — Christina HenryBunny — Mona AwadChristmas Staycation — Meghan QuinnHow My Neighbor Stole Christmas — Meghan QuinnMerry Christmas, You Filthy Animal — Meghan QuinnThe Nightmare Before Kissmas — Sara RaaschAmerican Hagwon — Min Jin LeePachinko — Min Jin LeeOff the Reservation — Stephen Graham JonesThe Only Good Indians — Stephen Graham JonesThe Buffalo Hunter Hunter — Stephen Graham JonesCardinal Rule — Liz TomfordeWindy City series — Liz TomfordeThe Two Wills — Blair FellA Court of Splintered Harmony — Sarah J. MaasThe Last King of Faerie — Cassandra ClareShadowhunters series — Cassandra ClareThe Mortal Instruments series — Cassandra ClareThe Infernal Devices series — Cassandra ClareThe Dark Artifices series — Cassandra ClareThe Wicked Powers series — Cassandra ClareThe Wolves of War — John GwynneThe Shadow of the Gods — John GwynneThe Faithful and the Fallen series — John GwynneValor — John Gwynne

  7. Sep 7

    From Page to Screen: The Best Adaptations

    This week on "Well Read and Unfiltered", we debate the hits and misses of book-to-screen adaptations, from "Project Hail Mary" and "Off Campus" to "Jurassic Park" and "The Ruins". We unpack casting choices, changed endings, and what it takes to capture a story’s heart, then wrap up with a lightning round of adaptations they’re excited to watch or happy to skip. And all of this begs this question: Is the book always better? As always, please follow, like, share, and comment to help us find more avid readers and lovers of all things books! This truly helps us reach new people and improve our podcast! And be sure to follow us on Instagram at @wellreadandunfilteredpodcast for more! BOOKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE Project Hail Mary - Andy Weir (Sci-fi) Off-Campus Series - Elle Kennedy (Romance) Heated Rivalry - Rachel Reid (Romance) The Ruins - Scott Smith (Horror) Jurassic Park - Michael Crichton (Sci-fi) Every Summer After - Carley Fortune (Romance) The Golden Summer - Carley Fortune (Romance) Hamnet - Maggie O'Farrell (Historical Fiction) Lord of the Rings - J. R. R. Tolkien (Fantasy) The Hobbit - J. R. R. Tolkien (Fantasy) Harry Potter - J. K. Rowling (Fantasy) The Mortal Instruments - Cassandra Clare (Romantasy) Sword Catcher - Cassandra Clare (Fantasy) Life of Pi - Yann Martel (Psychological Fiction) Remarkably Bright Creatures - Shelby Van Pelt (Literary Fiction) Sunrise on the Reaping - Suzanne Collins (Dystopian Fiction) Verity - Colleen Hoover (Thriller) Odyssey - Homer (Epic Poem) The Love Hypothesis (Ali Hazelwood) Fourth Wing - Rebecca Yarros (Romantasy) The Nightingale - Kristin Hannah (Historical Fiction) Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow - Gabrielle Zevin (Literary Fiction) The God of the Woods - Liz Moore (Thriller/Mystery) The Correspondent - Virginia Evans (Literary Fiction) The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo - Taylor Jenkins Reid (Historical Fiction/Romance) Whalefall - Daniel Kraus (Survival Horror) Incidents Around the House - Josh Malerman (Horror) Dungeon Crawler Carl - Matt Dinniman (Sci-fi) The Villains Series - V.E. Schwab (Sci-fi/Fantasy) East of Eden - John Steinbeck (Classic)

  8. Aug 31

    Our August 2026 Reading Recap!

    August reading brought five-star surprises, major disappointments, and plenty of unfiltered opinions. We’re recapping the romances, fantasy epics, literary fiction, sci-fi, and horror that defined our month, then revealing the one book each of us recommends above all the rest. Pour yourself a drink, prepare to add to your TBR, and join the conversation! What was your best—or most disappointing—read of August? BOOKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: Blood Over Bright Haven — M. L. WangThe Sword of Kaigen — M. L. WangFourth Wing — Rebecca YarrosA Photo Finish — Elsie SilverHeartless — Elsie SilverSeed — Ania AhlbornThe Unseen — Ania AhlbornThe Shuddering — Ania AhlbornBrother — Ania AhlbornThe Night We Met — Abby JimenezSay You’ll Remember Me — Abby JimenezJust for the Summer — Abby JimenezI Leave It Up to You — Jinwoo ChongThem — W. H. ChizmarScion — James IslingtonThe Will of the Many — James IslingtonThe Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion, Vol. 1 — Beth BrowerThe Renovation — Kenan OrhanMalice — John GwynneValor — John GwynneRuin — John GwynneA Time of Dread — John GwynneThe Wolves of War — John GwynneWe Burn So Bright — T. J. KluneThe House in the Cerulean Sea — T. J. KluneSomewhere Beyond the Sea — T. J. KluneThe Bones Beneath My Skin — T. J. KluneThe Knight and the Moth — Rachel GilligThe Knave and the Moon — Rachel GilligOne Dark Window — Rachel GilligTwo Twisted Crowns — Rachel GilligThe Calamity Club — Kathryn StockettThe Help — Kathryn StockettThe Murderbot Diaries — Martha Wells

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
6 Ratings

About

Welcome to Well-Read & Unfiltered, a weekly podcast where we get together to talk about books, bookish trends, and the ever-evolving world of book culture. From new releases, underrated gems, overhyped bestsellers, and the latest conversations happening across BookTok, Bookstagram, bookstores, and beyond, we’re here for all of the unfiltered discussions about the stories and characters to impact us all. Each episode features conversational deep dives, themed book discussions, current reads, reading trends, publishing news, and occasional book club episodes where we unpack one selected title together. Whether you love literary fiction, fantasy, horror, thrillers, sci-fi, romance, or romantasy, there’s a place for you here. Hosted by Aaron, K, and Casey from across the United States, Well-Read & Unfiltered is less about perfect reviews and more about authentic conversations, differing opinions, and building a community around the books we cannot stop thinking about. New episodes every Monday or Tuesday, so grab your current read and join the conversation! Be sure to follow us on Instagram for the latest news and content at @wellreadandunfilteredpodcast

Information

  • Creator
    Well-Read & Unfiltered Podcast
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    16
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Well-Read & Unfiltered Podcast
  • Show Website
    Well-read & Unfiltered

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